Textured paths for blind people on Sheffield’s £15m Fargate renovations ‘lead users directly into poles’.

According to a blind homeowner, textured paths for blind and partially sighted individuals on Sheffield’s £15 million Fargate restorations go directly to signposts.

The city centre thoroughfare reopened this summer after a two-year renovation, with planters, benches, and high-tech bins all making their debuts. A set of textured walkways and warning markings were also presented to help blind and partially sighted pedestrians navigate the street safely.

There is only one problem: street signs, lampposts, and even trees obstruct the routes on the ‘Marks & Spencer side’ in at least five spots, according to a blind resident who spoke with The Star.

Three solid black poles block the textured pavement that runs from the top of Norfolk Row to High Street.

Taking Norfolk Street to Town Hall would place users in direct collision with a street lamp, a no-entry sign, and a tree.

“It would cost thousands of pounds to rework it now.

“For blind people, it’s similar to many other aspects of society, such as computer system design.

When you ask them, ‘Have you considered about blind people?’, they answer, ‘Well, we set these things up and do that part later,’ which is not an effective mindset.”

The Star contacted Sheffield City Council to see if they were aware of the problem during planning and if they planned to relocate the poles.

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